Bottle-capping machine



Nor. 4, 1930. E. s. BURDICK ET L 1,780,639

' BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1926 B Sheets-$heet l 7-7-0 RNE NOV. 4, 1930. 5, BURDICK ET AL BOTTLE CAPP I NG MACHINE Fild Dec.

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 4, 1930. is B K ET AL 1,780,639

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE I Filed Dec. 28 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 m 90 55 67 9? h 4% ms 124 0 m "2 f6 50 I I26 YL I 4 n I X r260 24 m NOV. 4, 1930. 5, BURDICK ET AL 1,780,639

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 NOV. 4, 1930. BURDlCK ET AL BOTTLE CAPPI NG MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec.

I flTTU NEW Nov. 4, 1930. E s BURDlcK ET AL BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 28, 1926 afm . L/EN Patented Nov. 4, 1930 I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EARL S. BURDICK, OF MIIiWAUKIE, LEWIS 1. BYRNE, F PORTLAND, AND FRANCIS W.

' GHAUSSE, 0F SALEM, OREGON BOTTLE-CAPPING MACHINE Application filed December 28, 1926. Serial No. 157,451.

This invention relates generally to the dairy industry, and particularly to a special form of capping machine for milk bottles.

The main, object of this invention is to provide a special attachment for bottle filling machines whereby a sheet of metal foil can be applied to a milk bottle in a manner to completely close its mouth and protect its pouring edges from objectionable contact. The second object is to so construct the attachment that the foil covering will be reinforced by a stiff cardboard disk which cannot comein contact with the milk at any time.

The third object is to rendeiqit commercially possible to employ foil closures for milk bottles by using foilin strip or roll form and converting it into cap form duringits application to the milk bottle instead of forming it into caps before supplying same to the capping machine.

The fourth object is toprovide a sanitary cap for milk bottles in which nothing but the metal foil can come in contactwith the milkand that this foil is never touched by foreign substances from finding their way up under 'the cap, and also permitting the bottle to be handled by grasping same around its rim concealing cap without danger of the cap coming 01f and the bottle being dropped.

The sixth object is the economy of space required for the stocking of caps and the utilization of foil in an unmanufactured state, thereby permitting capping runs of great length without the interruptions ordinarily required where special forms of hottle protecting caps are employed.

(, the human hand during the application, and- These, and other objects, will become more apparent from the specification following as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the device showing same attached to a standard bottle filling machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the foil feed ratchets with the knife spring and lever. Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 33 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 44 in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail of the cutoff knife shown in; perspective. Fig. 6 is a detail of the friction mechanism on the foil rolls. Fig. 7 is a section taken along the line 77' in Fig.4. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 8-8 in Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the pump and driving mechanism with parts broken away in section. Fig. 10 is a section taken along the line 1010 in Fig. 7 showing the plunger of the pump in the uppermost position. Fig. 11 is similar to Fig. 10 but showing the plunger in the lowermost position. Fig. 12 is a vertical section through the capping head showing the first 7 step in the capping operation, namely when the bottle is brought into position and the foil is fed out over the bottle. Fig. 13 is similar to Fig. 12 but showing the head moved down to bring the foil to the top of the bottle and the inner plunger moved down forcing the cap and foil into the bottle top recess. Fig. 7 14 is similar to Fig. 13 showing the inner plunger maintaining its pressure on the paper cap and with the outer head moved 89 down bending the foil below the bottle top. Fig. 15 is similar to Fig. 14 showing the inner plunger maintaining pressure on the cap and showing the final operation of injecting water into the pressure chamber and causing the rubber die to contract around the foil pressing same tightly against the neck of the bottle. Fig. 16 is a fragmentary side elevation of the uppermost portion of the device 90 showing the operating cams and connecting levers. Fig. 17 is a plan of Fig. 16.

Similar numbers of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is illustrated the outline of the usual bottle filling machine which includes a table 20 mounted on the legs 21 and above which table 18 mounted a'fillin tank 22 through whose noazles 23 milk is a itted to the bottles 24, as is well understood. The bottles 24 are moved along the table 20 in perfect uniformity of speed and spacing by means of the conveyo r lugs 25 which bring the bottles 24 into position under the head of the device about to be described and move same away at the proper time, just as they would under any capping.

device.

It is preferable to supply a pair of capping heads in order that pairs of bottles may be capped simultaneously to increase the output, but to avoid undue complication there is illustrated only one complete head since it is obviousthat additional heads may easily be mounted over the filling table without departin from the spirit of this invention.

The bottle capping machine in this instance includes a pair of upright standards 26 across whose upper ends is secured a frame 27 in whose backwardly bending arms 28 is mounted a'shaft 29 upon which is mounted a quadrant 30, on the sides of which are secured the cam surfaces 31 and 32. Across the arms 28 is also mounted a shaft 33 on which are pivoted the levers 34 and 35 each of which is provided with a roller 36 which rides on its respective cam 31 or 32.

Underneath the table 20 is mounted a gear 37 on the side of which is attached a connecting rod 38 by means of the pin 39. The outer end of the connecting rod 38 is joined by a pin 40 to a lever 41 mounted on the fulcrum pin 42. To the pin 40 is also attached a plunger rod 43 whose upper end is joined by the latch 43A to the plunger 43B which is joined by the link 44 to the quadrant 30.

To the outer end of the lever 34 is attached a plunger 45 whose lower end is joined to the forked member 46 by means of the bolt 47. The member 46 is joined to the cylindrical shell 48, which is slidably mounted on the standards 26, which standards pass through the ears 49 which project from the member 48. Similar ears 50 also project from the member 48 and are positioned well below the ears 49 and slide on the standard26.

The lower end of the rod 43B slides in the bracket 43C and terminates a short distance above the table 20. Pivotally mounted on a standard 26 is an arm 51 which is provided with an upri ht post 51A which is normally held under t e rod 43B by the spring 52. A stop 52A is provided to limit the action of the spring 52.

When a bottle 24 moves under the capper it enga es the arm 51 and pushes the post 511L out rom its position under the rod 43 B. The latch 43-A is provided with a pin 43- l which is urged toward the notch 43-N in the rod 43B by the spring 43-S whose tension can be varied by the screw 43T which can be locked by the nut 43L. This prevents the feeding or application of a cap or foil to a bottle when no bottle is under the capper, and

'also accommodates the capper to different sizes of bottles and prevents breakage due to improper placing of a bottle under the capp The member 48 is provided with lateral slots 56. Inside of the member 48 is a plunger 57 provided with trunnions 58 which project through the slots 56 and have secured thereon the levers 59 and 60. The lower portion of the plunger 57 is counterbored to receive a presser foot 61 containing a spring 62 on which is held the collar 63 of the plunger rod 64 by means of the nut 65. The plunger 64 passes slidably through the dividing walls 66 of the member 57 in whose upper recess 67 is placed a spring 68 whose lower end rests on the wall 66, and whose upper end is confined by the collar 69 which is held in position on the rod 64 by means of the set screw 70. The rod 64 is joined at its upper end by means of a pin 71 to the plunger 72 which, in turn, is connected with the lever 35.

One side 73 of the member 57 is flattened to provide clearance for the cap feeding slide 74 for which there is provided a slot 75 in the lowermost portion of the member 57. The lower end of the member 57 is still further counterbored to form a recess 76 around whose lower edge are provided lugs 77 which form a temporary support for caps 78 that have been pushed under the pressure foot 61 by the cap feeding slide 74. A cap magazine 79 is formed on the forward side of the member 48 and has provided thereon the hubs 80 on which are pivotally mounted the bell crank levers 81 whose lower ends are attached by means of the pin 82 to the links 83 which, in turn, move the cap feeding slide 74 which is slidably mounted on the bracket 84 on which is provided a stop pin 85 which limits the outward travel of the slide 74.

Under the shell 48 is secured a die holder 86 within which is placed a rubber die 87 whose upper end is secured by the internal ring 88 and whose lower end is secured by the external ring 89, leaving a space 90 between the members 86 and 87 into which water can be forced under pressure through the pipe 91 from a pump mechanism,

The pump itself consists of a cylinder 92 above which is formed a reservoir 93. In the cylinder 92 is placed a piston 94 Whose rod 95 connects with the cross bar 96 across the upper ends of the rods 97 which guide in the bearings 98 formed on the side of the reservoir 93. The lower ends of the rods 97 are uniform amount of liquid in the cylinder 92.

for every operation. If any air should get into the cylinder it will escape through the port 103 and be replaced by water, as can be easily understood.

The pipe 104 which connects with the bottom of the cylinder 92 is joined by means A of the flexible hose 105 to the pipe 91.

On the side of the member 86 are formed the brackets 106 to which are secured the arms 107 of the foil cutting mechanism.

'This mechanism can best be seen in Fig. 5

and consists of the end guide members 108 which are joined by the cross member 109 and attachedto the members 107 by means of the bolts' 110. In each of the guides 108 is placed a slide 111 containing a compression spring 112. Each slide 111 is limited in its upward travel by a stop 113 secured to the top of each guide 108 bythe bolts 114. Each slide 111 is provided with upright projections 115 to which power is applied by means of the levers 116 which are pivoted on the screws 117 and are provided with screws 118 which rest on the upper ends of the members 115.

The levers 116 have their ends 119 directly in the path of the lever ends 59 and 60 which cause a downward movement of the levers 59 and 60 to operate the cutting mechanism, whose blade 120 is secured to the plate 121 which is joined by the hinges 122 to the bar 123 connecting the members 115. The members 121 and 123 are urged together by means of the springs 124 on the bolts 125 which pass through bothof said members.

'.' A lower cutting plate 126 is secured on the top of the member 109. A stripper plate 127 is placed above the plate'126, and the side from which the foil is fed into same is preferablycurled upwardly, as shown.

Also mounted on the back of the cutting mechanismmre the feed rolls 128 and 129, the former of which is urged upwardly by the spring 130. Theroll 129 has secured thereon a pinion 131 which meshes with a gear 132 mounted on the shaft 133. On the shaft 133 and rigidly connected with the gear 132 is a ratchet wheel 134 having only relatively deep indents, and loosely mounted on the shaft 133 is a second ratchet wheel 135 having relatively shallow indents alternating with deep indents. Also mounted on the shaft 133 is an arm 136 which carries a pawl 137 and is rocked by the link 138 which is attached to the rocking lever 139 which is pivoted on the bolt 140 on the bracket 141.

scribed is to drive the gear 132 only during alternate movements of the lever 139, due to the fact that one movement of the lever will cause the ratchet 135 having the shallow indents to cover up the deep indents of the second ratchet 134 during one operation, and to uncover same during the next operation. The purpose of this is to prevent the feeding of the foil at times when it is not desired. This is due to-the fact that motions applied to the lever 139 are two in number, the first produced by the travel of the lever 59 with relation to the shell 48, and secondly by the descent of the shell to the position shown in Figure 14. In other words-two motions are imparted to the foil feeding ratchets where but one is desired. In order to draw power for the foil feed from parts which move only when a bottle is in place, the ratio between the foil feed roll pinion 131 and the drive gear 132 is such as to make one of the movements referred to suflicient for the purpose, and therefore the ratchet teeth are covered during the time the other movement is taking place. Obviously, any other mechanism which would accomplish this purpose could be substituted therefor.

On the back of the feed roll supports and connecting with the bracket 84 are the brackets 142 which support the arbor 143 on which is placed the roll of foil 144. A friction roller 145 rests on the roll of foil 144 and its shaft 146 is held between the spring arms 147 which are hinged to the rod 148 which, in turn, is mounted in the brackets 149. The rollers'145 are spring urged toward the foil roll 144 by means of a spring 150, or in any other convenient manner.

On top of each lever 59 is provided a slotted end 151, each of which receives a pin a 74 has just placed a cap 78 in position for capping. .Under'the'action of the cam surface 31 the roller 36 and the lever 35, the

plunger 72 first feeds the plunger 57 down to the position shown in Figure 13 and pushes the cap 78 and foil 144-A into the neck of the bottle 24. As soon as the plunger 57 carries the trunnion 58 (see Figure 3) on which is mounted the lever 59, which has a slotted end 151, it follows that the pin 152 on the lever 81 will not move until the upper endof the slotted end 151 engages same and moves the lever 81, which will withdraw the slide 74 to the position shown in Figure 14, at which time a new cap comes into position in front of the slide 74.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Bottles 24 are placed on the table 20 and filled by permitting same to pass underneath the filling tank 22. As each bottle in its turn stops underneath the capping attachment the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 12 in which a cap 78 is resting on the lugs 77 underneath the pressure foot 61. The foil 144A has also been" fed out directly over the bottle 24.

Under the action of the cams 31 and 32 the following movements take place: First, the pressure foot 61 is moved down forcing the cap 78 past the slight supporting lugs 77 into the position shown in Fig. 13 in which the foil is drawn downwardly into the bottle recess. In other wordscompletely covering the under side of the paper cap 78.

The next movement, in which the rubber die 87 is moved downwardly, brings us to the osition shown in Fig. 14, which bends or olds the projecting foil downwardly below the neck of the bottle 24.

The next movement is caused by the operation of the cam gear 37 which operates the pump and forces water 153 between the rubber die 87 and its holder 86, as shown in Fig. 15, thereby completely excluding all air from between the bottle and its contacting foil, regardless of the irregularities on the exterior of the bottle neck, and to make the foil so closely adhere to same as to insure its remaining in position and efli'ectually protect the bottle mouth as long as desired.

While these operations are progressing other incidental operations are also taking place, for examplein Fig. 13 it will be seen that the cutting knife has just severed the At the completion of the capping operation the pump withdraws the water from the 'die and the pressure foot and die are raised to permit the bottle to be moved out of the way. During this raising operation the foil strip is again fed forward tt the position shown in Fig. 12 and another cap is fed into position from the magazine.

It can be seen that if for any reason an oddshaped bottle or over-size bottle should be put under the capper instead of crushing the bottle by physical force the irregularity will be taken up by means of the springs, as previously described.

It will be observed that the thickness of the material in the rubber lining of the die 87 increases toward the lower edge. The obj ect being to secure the first portion of the contracting movement at the top of the bottle and gradually work down, which insures a smooth application of the foil 144-A and at the same time prevents the possibility of a blow-out of the lining at the unsupported lower edge of the die.

It is preferable to provide a pair of supporting wires 154 under the die which support the foil until the die descends upon the bottle. For convenience, these wires are fastened to the front of the cross member 109 by means of the screws 155.

It can be seen that by preventing the feeding of foil or caps when a bottle is not under the capper the objectionable waste of time and material is eliminated.

It must also be understood that if for any reason it is desired to apply the paper caps to the bottles without the foil that these capping heads will accomplish this single purpose as well as the ordinary capper; in addition t0 the fact that it provides an automatic means for preventing the capping operation when no bottle is in position to be capped.

As previously suggested, in practice it is nearly always desirable to employ two cappers on one filling machine For this reason it is preferable to so time the operations with relation to the automatic cut-out for the no bottle no cap device that the member 57 shall be permitted to descend part way into the rubber die when no bottle is under the die, in order that the pressure from the pump which supplies both ofthe dies will not expend itself in collapsing the rubber die which offers no resistance at the expense of the other die whichmay have a bottle it is desired to cap. v

Vhile there are many different ways in which the various movements above described can be accomplished, we have illustrated what we consider a preferred form of such elements as are required to secure these movements, but it is not our intention to limit ourselves to this precise construction, but we do intend to cover such forms and modi-- fications thereof as fall fairly within the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of an upright frame; a rubber lined cup slidably mounted on said frame; a presser foot in said cup; a foil feed mechanism adapted to place foil under said cup; a disk feed mechanism for feeding caps into said cup above said foil and under said presser foot; ineans for moving said presser foot downwardly against said cap to force same with said foil into a bottle neck recess; means for moving said rubber cup downwardly to fold the projecting edges of said foil below the bottle mouth; and means for contracting said rubber cup around said folded foil consisting of a pump for forcing a fluid against the outside of said cup lining.

2. In a bottle capper, the combination of an upright guide; a slide mounted on said guide; a rubber lined cup mounted on said slide means for injecting fluid between said cup and its lining and for releasing .said fluid therefrom; a plunger passing through said cup; a presser foot in said plunger separately movable in a vertical direction; a

cap magazine mounted alongside of said cup;

feed rolls for feeding foil under said cup;

a slide member for moving caps from said magazine into said cup below said presser foot; lugs attached to the plunger for bolding a cap until the presser foot descends;

cutting meansfor severing the foil from its roll prior to its application to a bottle while the cup is in an upward position; and spring means for accommodating the capper to various heights of bottles.

I 3'. The combination of a rigid cup member with a flexible lining for the side walls of said cup; a pump for forcing fluidbetweencombination with a slidableplunger project ing downwardly into said cup and having an operating rod projecting into said plunger, said rod having a spring-urged presser foot on the lower end thereof, said plunger having a spring in its upper end,

said plunger operating rod having a collar on same bearing against said upper spring, said plunger having stop means thereon for limiting its movement with relation to its v guide member.

5. A capping machine having a capper onerating rod; a slide for operating said rod: a latch between said rod and slide adapted to unlatch under a given resistance to said rod; and stop means normally interposed in the path of said rod to prevent the operation of said capper, said stop having means for ,withdrawing' same whenever a bottle is under said capper.

6. A bottle capping machine having a foil feeding mechanism. for placing a sheet of foil over the opeii mouth of a bottle, a disk feeder for placing a cardboard disk over said foil directly over the bottle mouth, a presser foot for forcing saiddisk and foil into the bottle mouth allowing the edges of the foil to project beyond the .sides of the bottle mouth, a contractible cup surrounding said presser foot and slidable with relation thereto, the side ofwhich cup has a downwardly increasing thickness whereby said extending edges of foil will be turned downwardly against the sides of the bottlewhen said cup is lowered, and means for contractlng said cup ma manner to first close against said bottle at its extreme mouth and to gradually close upon said bottle toward its lower end consisting of a fluid pressure container enclosing the side of said cup, and means for varying the pressure therein. I

7. In a bottle capper the combination of a disk cap feeder, a contractible cup mounted under said capfeeder, a presser foot passing through said cup in slidable relation thereto, feed rolls for moving foil under said presser foot, a ratchet for moving said rolls, means for operating said ratchet to feed foil under said cup and presser foot when they are in their Nuppermost positions, and means for progressively feeding said disk caps upon said foilfthen pressing said cap and foil into a bottle neck, andthen contracting said foil around the bottle neck in a manner to exclude all air from between the foil and bottle.

EARL S. BURDICK. LEWIS P. BYRNE. FRANCIS W. CHAUSSE. 

